For Good or Bad, The Memories Remain.
Chapter 7
Disclaimer- I don't still own Buffy and crew, I just use them in my writing, just for fun, never for profit "Cause that's wrong!"
Spoilers- mid 4th season then everything takes a left turn off the charted path
Rating- May get to R eventually
Xander brought breakfast on the way to see how Willow and Buffy were doing. When he left Tara last night they were still unconscious. Willow seemed to be much worse off. This was understandable, from what Tara told him about the spells effects. Good grief, Buffy had her whole life to absorb her memories; Willow got them all at once. Tara answered the door right away.
"Xander, she's gone!"
"Who, Buffy?"
"No, Willow! She vanished in the middle of the night. Buffy's still inside. We have to find Willow!."
"Tara, the only one who might know where she went is Buffy. We have to wake her."
They were both standing there when the lights went out.
The violent thunderstorms had been going all night and all day. The gloom was so deep that noon appeared as twilight. Few things ventured into the downpour. Those that did were predators. It soaked everything, turned everything muddy and grey.
The memories lay in a cold harsh pile in her mind like a scrapbook had exploded at her feet. She could see each and every one, without the comfort of time to soothe the jagged edges. She knew what had happened and why, but it was no solace compared to all of the raw emotion coursing through her mind. Pain, sorrow, grief, despair, regret were all present in bucket loads. All of the things she had tried so hard to repress came screaming to the forefront.
"I see you know enough to now realize that I do have a decent frame of reference to speak of Slayers and Watchers"
"Yes, I guess you are eminently qualified. But that poses the next question; Now what?"
"I've received the crib note version of your Slayer's history. I now want your version."
"Where should I start?"
The rain chilled her to the bone but she hardly noticed. All the memories pounding in her head, she couldn't keep it straight. So much pain! So much grief! And oh so much death! She had no idea it was possible for one person to have suffered so much for so very long. If only she had known, she'd not done the spell, or had the spell done on her? Wait, which was it? She was becoming so confused. Which parts were her and which parts were the other girl? All this time she had been walking and wasn't sure where she was going nor why. .
The flickering candles threw long shadows across her delicate face. Xander looked on while Tara tried to wake Buffy.
"Tara, she looks so fragile. How does she do it? I mean, with all the strength and skill she has, you would expect her to be bigger, you know, all She-Hulky or such. Instead she looks so tiny."
"Buffy, you've got to wake up, we need you. Please."
Tara was gently shaking Buffy when, all of a sudden, Buffy sat up, her eyes big as saucers. When she sat up, her face was a scant foot or two from Xander. He was looking in her eyes when he saw them change, going from normal Buffy look to a deep haunted look in her unfocused eyes.
"Buffy, thank God you're awake! We were worried because of the spell. Did it work? Are you ok?
"Xander?" she whispered. "Yeah, the spell worked. I have my memories back. All of them, more's the pity. Hi Tara, why so worried looking? Where's Will?"
To Be Continued
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